236 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



It inhabits Western Arctic America, migrating southward 

 in winter to Central America and the West Indies. The 

 adult male has the head and neck whitish, speckled slightly 

 with black, and a patch of metallic green on the side of 

 the head ; back and flanks, vermiculated with black on a 

 vinous tint ; axillaries, white ; breast, shaded with vinous ; 

 speculum, black, glossed with green ; abdomen, white ; 

 bill, slate colour; nail, black. Length, about twenty-two 

 inches. The adult female is similar to Anas penelope, but 

 the alar bar is rich black, and the axillaries white, very 

 slightly mottled. 



WIGEON. 



THE Wigeon (Anas penelope, Linnaeus) is best known as a 

 winter visitor to the British Islands, but a few pairs nest 

 within our limits. It also inhabits most parts of the Pale- 

 arctic and Nearctic Regions, but only sparingly in the 

 latter. The adult male has the crown and forehead ochreous- 

 buff ; cheeks and back part of neck, rich ferruginous, with 

 minute spots of dark green; lower portion of neck behind, 

 also scapulars and back, fine vermiculations of dark grey 

 and white; scapulars, elongated; speculum, vivid green, 

 tipped below with black ; primaries and tail, blackish ; chin, 

 black: throat and upper part of neck, chestnut; breast, 

 white, shading into grey; flanks, finely marked with dark 

 grey; irides, hazel; bill, slate-grey; tip, black; legs and 

 feet, deep greyish-blue. Length, about twenty or twenty- 

 one inches. (P. 237.) 



